Rocker switch assembly



July 23, 1963 R. J. MEYER 3,098,902

ROCKER SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed March 14, 1960 INVENTOR. RALPH d MEYER United States Patent Iowa Filed Mar. 14, 1969, Ser. No. 14,598 6 Claims. (Cl. zens This invention relates to momentary contact electrical switches, and particularly to a plurality of momentary switches in combination with .a memory device which maintains an operated position corresponding to the last direction of operation of any of the switches. In aircraft communication systems a remote control device for panel installation must be compact, be positive in operation and be easily operated. The present switch assembly, which has rocker type control members, has been found to be more easily operated .than the well lsnown rotary or pushbutton type switches.

This invention comprises a plurality of rocker type control members for controlling different momentary switching devices, the control members being coupled through a lost-motion device and a cornmon rotatable shaft to a common memory switch actuator so that a memory switch which is operated by the actuator is maintained in a position which corresponds to the direction of the last operation of any one of the control members.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact switch assembly with rocker control members that are easily operated.

Another object is to provide in a switch assembly a mechanical arrangement for readily operating a two-position switch for showing the direction of operation of any one of a plurality of momentary contact switches.

The following description and the appended claims may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying single FIGURE which shows two similar momentary contact switches in combination with a snap action memory switch.

The momentary contact switch 2 which is similar to momentary contact switch 1, has been exploded in order to show more clearly the individual components of the switch. Also, the width of the compartment which contains the snap action actuator for the two-position memory switch 4- has been widened in order to show clearly the operation of the switching mechanism. In practice, the switch assembly comprising quite small parts is very compact and the control members provide easy, positive operation of the switches with little danger of accidental operation.

The momentary switches 1 and 2 have a common rotatablyanounted shaft 3; for mounting their control members. Rotation of the control members in a direction opposite to the direction of their preceding operation rotates shaft 3 for operating the memory switch 4. The momentary contact switch 2 includes usual type limit switches 5 and '6, each of which requires constant pressure against a respective resilient control member for continued operation. A different direction of operation of control member 7 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 3 operates a different one of the limit switches. The switches 5 and 6 are mounted in a plane normal to shaft 3, and the spring biased control actuators 8 and h of switches 6 land 5, respectively, are spaced apart for receiving the end of radial extension arm it which is rigidly fastened to control member 7. The actuators t} and 9 maintain the control member in a central normal position. The shaft 3 is rotatably mounted to frame 11 so that it can be rotated by any actuator control member of any number of adjacently mounted momentary switch sections. Switch 2 has an actuator control member 12 "ice 2 which is fastened adjacent to momentary switch control member '7 on shaft 3 by fastener 13. The actuator control member 12 has a slot 115 for receiving a pin or tang 14 which extends from the adjacent control member 7. The difference between the widths of slot 15 and pin 14 provides lost or free motion between the adjacent members such that the momentary switch control memher 7 can be operated between its normal position and either of its positions of operation without rotating shaft 3. Spacers on posts 28 and 29 which extend between the walls of the switch compartment provide stops for limiting the rotation of the adjacent control members. An actuating arm 16 for operating the snap-action memory switch 4 has one end rigidly fastened to shaft 3. The opposite end of the arm has a slot 17 for receiving a transverse pin 18 which is mounted on the end of the U-shaped actuator arm 39. The U-shaped actuator member 19 is rotatably mounted to frame 11 by lineal shafts 2% and 21 that extend outwardly from opposite legs of the member. The spring 36 extends between the center of the U-shaped member and the frame so as to operate the actuator to its full operated position after the actuator has been rotated past its center point of travel by operation of actuating arm 16. A switch arm 22 that is fixed to shaft 21 engages actuators 23 and 24 of limit switches 25 and 26 respectively.

In operation, consider that the lower portion of rocker control member 31 which is fastened to member 7 is pressed so that the momentary limit switch 5 is operated. The pin 1 of control member 7 will :bear against the edge of slot 15 of actuator control member 12 for rota ting shaft 3. Through operation of actuator arm 16 the U-shaped actuator 19 is quickly opera-ted past its cenrter position because of spring 3% to operate limit switch 26 of the memory switch. The limit switch 5 of momentary switch 2 or the limit switch 27 of momentary switch 1 may be operated repeatedly by pressing the lower portions of the members without rotating shaft 3 and therefore without disturbing the operation of memory limit switch 26. With the shaft in its present position, the pin 14 of switch control member '7 normally bears against the upper side of slot 15 of actuator control member 12. Likewise, the pin 14 of switch control member 32 bears against the upper edge of slot .15. It is, therefore, obvious that if either control member 31 or control member 32 is operated by pressing its upper portion, shaft 3 will be rotated for operating actuator it? through its. centor position so that memory limit switch 26 is released and memory limit switch 25 is operated. Then, obviously, switch 25 will remain operated until the upper portion of any one of the switch control members is pressed again.

The switch assembly may be enclosed in a case having slots in its panel for allowing the rocker control members to protrude slightly. Several control members as required may be mounted on the common shaft 3. In a particular application the diiferent control members correspond to different digits in the frequency of operation of radio equipments. Operation of any of the control members simultaneously tunes remote equipments and operates a local indicator which displays the frequency of operation. The momentary switches are connected to solenoid wind ings for controlling clutches which connect tuning elements to a motor shaft and the memory snap-action switch is connected to the motor windings for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor shaft.

Although this switch has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that the switch may be changed in ways obvious to those skilled in the art and still be within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rocker-control momentary contact switch in combination with a snap-action memory switch, a rotatably mounted shaft, a rocker control member rotatably mounted on said shaft, a rocker control arm extending radially from said rocker control member, a pair of switching devices, each having a spring biased actuator engaged by said rocker control arm, said devices being mounted for disposing said actuators in a plane normal to said shaft, said spring-biased actuators in their released positions pressing against opposite surfaces of said rocker control arm for normally maintaining said rocker control member in a central normal position, a lost-motion coupling means linking said rocker control member to said shaft, said memory switch having two positions corresponding to the two directions of rotation of said shaft and a biased actuator for urging said memory switch into definite engagement during its operation from one position to its other position, a control member constrained to rotate with said shaft engaging said last actuator, said lostmotion coupling allowing said rocker control member to rotate freely on said shaft to the extent required for repeatedly operating either one of said switching devices, said shaft being rotated in response to said rocker control member being rotated from its normal position in a direction opposite to the last direction of operation, and said memory switch being operated by motion of said shaft to that position corresponding to the new direction of rotation of said rocker control member.

2. A rocker-control momentary contact switch in combination with a snap-action memory switch, a rotatably mounted shaft, a rocker control member rotatably mounted on said shaft, a rocker control arm extending radially from said rocker control member, a pair of switching devices, each having a spring biased actuator engaged by said rocker control arm, said devices being mounted for disposing said actuators in a plane normal to said shaft, said spring-biased actuators in their released positions pressing against opposite surfaces of said rocker control arm for normally maintaining said rocker control member in a central normal position, an actuator control member constrained to rotate with said shaft mounted adjacent said rocker control member, one of said control members having a rigid pin, the other control member having a slot for receiving said pin for providing a lost-motion coupling therebetween, said memory switch having two positions corresponding to the two directions of rotation of said shaft and a biased actuator for urging said memory switch into definite engagement during its operation from one position to its other position, a control member constrained to rotate with said shaft engaging said last actuator, said lost-motion coupling allowing said rocker control member to rotate freely on said shaft to the extent required for repeatedly operating either one of said switching devices, said shaft being rotated in response to said rocker control member being rotated from its normal position in a direction opposite to the last direction of operation, and said memory switch being operated by motion of said shaft to that position corresponding to the new direction of rotation of said rocker control member.

3. A plurality of momentary-contact switches in combination with a two-position memory snap-actuator control, each of said switches having a switching control member momentarily rotatable within predetermined limits in opposite directions from a normal position for performing different switching operations, the position of operation of said snap-actuator control corresponding to the direction of the last operation of any of said switching control members, a rotatably mounted shaft, said switching control members being rotatably mounted on said shaft, a lost-motion coupling linking each of said switching control members to said shaft, said couplings limiting the rotary motion between the respective switching control members and said shaft to only that required by said respective switching control member in either direction for performing said corresponding switching operation, coupling means for linking said shaft to said snap-actuator control, said snap-actuator control operating to a different one of its two positions in response to any one of said switching control members being operated in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the immediately preceding operation of any one of said switching control members.

4. A plurality of momentary-contact switches in combination with a two-position memory snap-actuator control, each of said switches having a switching control member momentarily rotatable within predetermined limits in opposite directions from a normal position for performing different switching operations, the position of operation of said snap-actuator control corresponding to the direction of the last operation of any of said switching control members, a rotatably mounted shaft, said switching control members being rotatably mounted on said shaft, an actuator control member constrained to rotate With said shaft mounted adjacent each one of said switching control members, one of the control members for each switch having a rigid pin, the other control member for each switch having a slot for receiving said pin to limit the relative rotary motion between the adjacent members to only that required by said respective switching control member in either direction for performing said corresponding switching operation, coupling means for linking said shaft to said snapactuator control, said snap-actuator control operating to a different one of its two positions in response to any one of said switching control members being operated in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the immediately preceding operation of any one of said switching control members.

5. A plurality of renter-control momentary contact switches with a last-position memory switch, a rotatably mounted shaft common to said contact switches, each of said momentary contact switches comprising a rocker type switch control member rotatably mounted on said shaft and switching means responsive to limited rotation of said switch control member from its normal position to perform a different switching operation for each direction of rotation, said memory switch having two-position contact means and a snap-action control arm for operating said contact means, an actuator control member mounted on said shaft adjacent each of said switch control members, one of each of said adjacently mounted control members having a rigid pin for engaging the other member, said other member having a slot for receiving said pin to provide rotary lost-motion coupling between the members, the extent of the free rotary motion between the members being equal to that of said switch control member in moving from its normal position to its limit of rotation in either direction, an actuating arm, said actuating arm and said actuator control members being constrained to rotate with said shaft, said actuating arm engaging said snap-action control arm for operating said memory switch in response to rotation of said shaft, and said contact means of said memory switch being operated from one of its positions to its other position in response to any of said switch control members being operated in a direction opposite to that of the immediately preceding operation of any of said switch control members, the operated position of said memory switch always corresponding to the direction of operation of the last operated one of said switch control members.

6. In combination: a plurality of rocker switches each of which has a control member; means for pivotally mounting each said control member for actuation in opposite direction; a memory switch having actuating means movable between two stable position; and means connecting said actuating means with said movable control members so that said actuating means is caused to assume a first stable position when any one of said movable control membens is actuated in one direction and is caused to assume a second stable position when any one of said movable control members is thereafter actuated in the opposite direction, the position of said actuating means being unaifected by actuation of any of said movable control members in said one direction While in said first stable position and being unaffected by actuation of any of said movable control members in said opposite direction when in said second stable position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tritle J an. :19, Koertge May 3, Carlson Sept. 4, Schaefer Mas 6, Cox Jan. 20, Chapin et a1. Dec. 29, 

6. IN COMBINATION: A PLURALITY OF ROCKER SWITCHES EACH OF WHICH HAS A CONTROL MEMBER; MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING EACH SAID CONTROL MEMBER FOR ACTUATION IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION; A MEMORY SWITCH HAVING ACTUATING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO STABLE POSITION; AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID ACTUATING MEANS WITH SAID MOVABLE CONTROL MEMBERS SO THAT SAID ACTUATING MEANS IS CAUSED TO ASSUME A FIRST STABLE POSITION WHEN ANY ONE OF SAID MOVABLE CONTROL MEMBERS IS ACTUATED IN ONE DIRECTION AND IS CAUSED TO ASSUME A SECOND STABLE POSITION WHEN ANY ONE OF SAID MOVABLE CONTROL MEMBERS IS THEREAFTER ACTUATED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE POSITION OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING UNAFFECTED BY ACTUATION OF ANY OF SAID MOVABLE CONTROL MEMBERS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION WHILE IN SAID FIRST STABLE POSITION AND BEING UNAFFECTED BY ACTUATION OF ANY OF SAID MOVABLE CONTROL MEMBERS IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN IN SAID SECOND STABLE POSITION 